Bayne Welker, the director of stallion marketing and public sales at Alice Chandlers Mill Ridge Farm for nine years, will join Fasig-Tiptons management team as an account executive in 2009.
Welker, who also has been the president of the Consignors and Commercial Breeders Association since the groups formation in 2005, will take his new position effective in January.
One day after opening with a 75 percent buy-back rate, the Goffs November foal sale in Ireland strengthened somewhat Tuesday but still endured a significant downturn versus last year.
The Tuesday session sold 83 of 216 horses offered, for a buy-back rate of 62 percent. The session grossed 784,000 euros, or about $980,000, for an average price of approximately $11,807. The gross was down 35 percent and average down 10 percent from last year's second session.
Magna Entertainment Corp., the struggling owner-operator of 10 U.S. racetracks, has reached an agreement to extend by 11 days the maturity date of a $40 million loan with the Bank of Montreal, the company announced late on Monday.
The 11-day extension follows four previous one-month extensions to the credit line. The maturity date of the line is now Nov. 28. Magna paid the Bank of Montreal $250,000 for the extension, according to a release from the company.
Television Games Network and representatives of Fair Grounds and its horsemen were negotiating a deal on Friday that could potentially allow TVG to accept wagers on the track's races, according to the president of the Louisiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.
Wagering on races from Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans will be available on three national account-wagering companies, but not the fourth, Television Games Network, reflecting what could be a new alignment in the home betting market.
TVG used to be the dominant force in account wagering, but as its contracts have expired with racetrack operators - and as Churchill Downs Inc. and Magna Entertainment have aggressively entered the market - TVG's business model has showed signs of strain.
LEXINGTON, Ky. John Phillipss Darby Dan Farm in Lexington will introduce three first-year stallions and drop the fee for one of its 2008 sires, Suave.
Suave will drop from $17,500 to $12,500.
Darby Dans first-year stallions in 2009 are Nobiz Like Shobiz, who will stand for $7,500; Run Away and Hide, $7,500; and Magna Graduate, $5,000.
Darby Dan also will stand Perfect Soul for his 2008 fee of $15,000, and Sun King also will remain at his 2008 level of $10,000. Repriced, as in 2008, will have a private fee.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Keeneland November breeding stock sale's 10th session ended with more declines, following the pattern since the two-week auction opened on Nov. 3.
Eaton Sales agency's $110,000 weanling Indian Charlie colt out of Willa Time, by Gilded Time, was Wednesday's highest-priced horse, and sole six-figure horse. Shannon Run Stables purchased the bay colt, a half-brother to the winner Aura Lee consigned as Hip No. 3705.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Seeking the Gold, sire of such champions as Flanders and Heavenly Prize in his illustrious career at stud, has been pensioned at age 23 after showing signs of age-related declining fertility, Claiborne Farm announced Tuesday.
A son of Mr. Prospector, Seeking the Gold stood this year at Claiborne for $125,000 and has a handful of mares in foal, according to farm spokesman Bernie Sams.
Negotiations on the distribution of racetrack signals to account-wagering companies have expanded to include a broad number of horsemens groups, the top official for a company that controls the simulcast signals for the racetracks owned by Churchill Downs Inc. and Magna Entertainment Corp. said on Monday.